OK... so age is now taking effect...

[Jonesy]

Would something like these help you see the pedal board better?

 

https://www.gear4music.com/orchestral/accessories/music-stands/lights

[SumOne]

Might as well make Bass playing as comfortable as possible:

 

Those Zoom pedal displays are small, something like the Boss GX 10 is much more readable.

 

And as already mentioned - get a lightweight Bass (and amp/cab). 'what does it weigh?' is a cliché question when someone puts up an advert selling a Bass without saying the weight, I think most people that do gigs/play standing up eventually find it quite an important consideration. Manufacturers seem to have realised this and there is quite a good choice of lightweights now. 

 

There's a slight 'back in the day we didn't question the weight of a bass' attitude sometimes....yeah, but people also smoked in pubs, didn't wear seatbelts, had asbestos and lead around the house, and probably have bad backs now! 

 

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 11:23 by SumOne

[la bam]

Cheers. Some good points to think about there from all. Thanks. 

[Raslee]

I have 2 Sandberg superlights, 4 and a 5, and a Spector RST, all under 6.6lbs…absolute joyous and sound great IMO…helped with shoulder and back pain  tremendously. For the rig I’m using a Markbass Pure 4ohm 2x10 and an Elf, again superlight and pretty decent sound. Just made a really nice Paulowina P bass which is 7lbs…really chuffed how it came out with a lovely light roasted neck off eBay…total cost around £300 with Geezer Emg. 

[Norris]

A good strap can help a lot. Personally I have used a Comfort Strapp for years and really wouldn't use anything else. You'll probably want a long or extra-long one though. I don't know who they measured them against but even long is borderline too short for me (I'm 5'9")

[Cliff Edge]

On 23/06/2025 at 05:38, prowla said:

I tried some varifocals spectacles and they were awful: the edges of my 32" 4k monitor became curved and I couldn't read things by moving my eyes but instead had to keep them still and move my head to read; I also couldn't use my peripheral vision.

I really couldn't recommend them less..

As for contact lenses: I was recommended not to have them for astigmatism, as every time you blink you slightly shift them.

I think that varifocal contacts would exacerbate that issue and you'd be looking at the world through a wobbly fish-eyed vision.

I have astigmatism and I have always been very short sighted, plus advancing years have buggered up the close reading. I wear varifocal glasses most of the time with no issues. I’ve used contact lenses for over 40 years and currently use multifocal Purevision2 from Bausch and Lomb, bought online from Vision Direct. Best contacts I’ve ever used. 

[theplumber]

Bought a music stand to put the set list on...can't see it when it's on the floor....can't get back up when I bend down to look at it!

[prowla]

1 hour ago, Cliff Edge said:

I have astigmatism and I have always been very short sighted, plus advancing years have buggered up the close reading. I wear varifocal glasses most of the time with no issues. I’ve used contact lenses for over 40 years and currently use multifocal Purevision2 from Bausch and Lomb, bought online from Vision Direct. Best contacts I’ve ever used. 

And there y'go - there's no solution which suits everyone!

[Gank Bass]

If you have the time/patience you could try building your own bass? I had nerve issues in my shoulder from using heavy basses and thin straps. I now have a few custom builds on rotation based around the lightest bodies I could find on eBay, combined with wide bass straps, makes a huge difference! (It does however seem to amplify the pain when I occasionally break out my thunderbird)

[Geek99]

15 hours ago, Cliff Edge said:

I have astigmatism and I have always been very short sighted, plus advancing years have buggered up the close reading. I wear varifocal glasses most of the time with no issues. I’ve used contact lenses for over 40 years and currently use multifocal Purevision2 from Bausch and Lomb, bought online from Vision Direct. Best contacts I’ve ever used. 

Weirdly my sight is improving slightly - partner has also become a whole diopter less myopic 

Edited 23 hours ago by Geek99

[Bluewine]

On 23/06/2025 at 08:34, KingBollock said:

Could you tape a set list to the back of your bass?

 

The first thing that popped into my head when reading your problem with the pedal screen, was the Gameboy magnifying light.

 

Maybe not one of those exactly, but I thought it worth mentioning in case it might give you an idea.

 

That's a good idea. I could definitely see taping a set list on my Hofner.

 

Daryl

[Bluewine]

Something new for me. When I arrive at a gig I make sure I know where all the railings are for stairs and use them.

 

A clean stage is important to me now as well. I don't like a lot of leads all over the place.  They're very easy to trip on and cause a fall.

 

Daryl

[Huge Hands]

1 hour ago, Bluewine said:

 

That's a good idea. I could definitely see taping a set list on my Hofner.

 

Daryl

 

If I remember correctly, if you watch the new "Get Back" remaster thing of the Beatles that Peter Jackson did, you can see a set list taped to the side of Paul's Hofner, presumed to be from their Shea Stadium gig?

Edited 2 hours ago by Huge Hands